Association between dietary patterns and serum leptin-to-adiponectin ratio in apparently healthy adults

Dietary patterns reflect diet and nutritional habits of individuals in a society. Various dietary patterns could influence leptin and adiponectin secretion from adipose tissue. These hormones are associated with metabolic diseases. It is suggested that the leptin-to-adiponectin (L/A) ratio might be a more useful diagnostic marker in predicting chronic diseases than leptin and adiponectin separately. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between various dietary patterns and L/A ratio in Iranian adults.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 apparently healthy subjects aged 25-50 years in Tabriz, Iran. Dietary patterns were determined using 132-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire on a 5-point scale. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), as well as fasting serum leptin and adiponectin levels were measured to assess the association between dietary patterns and L/A ratio.

Four major dietary patterns were identified using a factor analysis approach: Western, healthy, mixed, and traditional dietary patterns. Linear regression analysis showed that a Western dietary pattern was negatively associated with serum adiponectin concentration, even after adjusting for the confounders (r = -0.19, p = 0.02). No statistically significant associations were found between any dietary pattern and leptin (r = -0.14, p = 0.06) or L/A ratio (r = -0.10, p = 0.09).

Our findings indicate an inverse association between a Western dietary pattern and serum adiponectin levels but not for serum leptin or L/A ratio.